Occupant load sensor of seat for vehicle

• US 7,487,687 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Kazunori, Shiohara, Hajime, Nakano, Satohiko, Aoyama, Mutsuro, Inayoshi, Muneto, Kawabata, Hideki, Sumi, Chiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US11/976,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20080098823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 738/623.91, 738/624.74
• US Class Current: 73/862.391
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle includes a metal-made bracket fixed to a strain member and having an attachment portion extending in a lateral direction from the strain member, an amplifier substrate for amplifying a signal transmitted by the strain gauge. One surface of the amplifier substrate is covered by the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and the other surface thereof is covered by a metal-foil ground pattern. The occupant load sensor further includes a resin-made amplifier case fixed to the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and arranged in parallel to the strain member. The resin-made amplifier case houses therein the amplifier substrate.

Claims

1. An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a strain member adapted to be fixed at both ends of a fixing surface provided at one of a floor-side stationary member and a seat-side stationary member with a predetermined distance from the fixing surface in a vertical direction of the seat;

a connecting member vertically fixed to the strain member and adapted to be fixed to the other one of the floor-side stationary member and the seat-side stationary member,

a strain gauge attached to the strain member;

a metal-made bracket fixed to the strain member and having an attachment portion extending in a lateral direction of the seat from the strain member;

an amplifier substrate for amplifying a signal transmitted by the strain gauge, one surface of the amplifier substrate being covered by the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and the other surface thereof being covered by a metal-foil ground pattern; and

a resin-made amplifier case fixed to the attachment portion of the metal-made bracket and arranged in parallel to the strain member, the resin-made amplifier case housing the amplifier substrate.

2. An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the metal-made bracket has a fixing surface which comes in contact with the strain member when the metal-made bracket is fixed to the strain member, and a case attachment surface which comes in contact with the resin-made amplifier case and arranged at the same side as the fixing surface.